Boat



W. J. DE WlTT July 28, 193 1;

BOAT

Filed Nov 20, 1930 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented July 28, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF1cE' WILLIAM .Jt DE WITT, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO S l-IOE FORM 00., INCL, OF AUBURN, YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW'V YOBK BOAT Application flled' November '20, 1930,, Serial No.; 496,947.

This invention relates to an improvement inv beats the bulls whereof are made of celluloid or other normally stiff sheet, material that, under proper conditions becomes somewhat plastic and may be manipulated into ardesired formwhich (form is retained when thematerialresumesits normal condition. v v The primary object of this invent1on. 1s

1o, to,provide a boat orsimilararticle the main portion of which is celluloid or other light material whereby the completed article 1s inexpensive, light, practically unbreakable, and will float freely in water.

the method of making the boat and in the details of construction of the various features thereof as will appear from an examination of the following description and of the drawings'which form a part thereof f and in which i p s Fig. 1 is a'plan view of a boat embodying one form of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a "Sldfl elevation partially in' v2:5 perspective of the boat shown in Fig. 1

. Fig. 3is; an enlarged sectional view taken along theline 33,of Fig. 1;

Fig 4 is'anenlarged view partially in section illustrating a portion ofthe "rudder;-

80 Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section'of anotherdetail thereof;

'Fig. 6 is a view SlIIlllflI'dlO Fig. 2 illustrating .a boat embodying another form of this invention;

85.; Fig. 7 is a view similar'to Fig. 4 illustrating' another'form of rudder;

Fig. 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

Fig 9; is a section 9--9 of Fig. 1. v

The material from which the boat is-made is 'preferablycelluloid' or similar material which has many advantageous qualities as for example, those of being rendered pliable V taken along the line 4 by the application of heat and of resuming and retaining its normal condition when cold, of absorbing coloring materialapplied to its surfaceand ofintegrally uniting at its contacting surfaces when treated with ace:

0- tone or other solvent. For convenience of Other objects of the inventionresi'de inbottom and sides whereof may be of a single sheet of material 12. 'Mounted. upon and within the hull are various elements, the structure and function whereof will be de' scribed hereinbelow. I

The hull' is preferably formed by bending a sheet of celluloid and closing one end by stitching or otherwise and shaping itv upon a last or form of suitable contour in I sheet of material 11 and the stern of another p accordance with the method disclosediin. my 1 copending application, Serial No. 166,315 filed February 7, 1927: The sheet 11 is formed over the last; the closed end which forms the bow defining a-suitably curved line and the edge at the other end which forms the stern defining a transverse curve or arc. The-sheet l2 is bent atright angles over one end of the form and the edge of the sheet 11 at that end is bent to provide a flange 1 3 which contacts withthe edges of'the'vertical portion'of the sheet 12. The upper edges of the sheet ll-are also, bent to provide flanges 14 which contact with the side edges ofthe horizontal portion ofv the sheet '12 and also extend to the 'bow thus increasing'the rigidity ofsheet 11 and providing continuous spaces between'the' gun wales and washboards. At the bowis in troduced a sheet of celluloid 15 which extends below the flanges 14 and :is thereby secured in position. ,Th e overlapping flanges of the sheet 11 are secured to the sheets 12 and 15 by the use of acetone or other suitable cement or adhesive. The abutting edges of the sheet 11 at the bow are covered by a separate, strip of celluloid l6 similarly secured in place. Thehull is thus completely sealed against the entry of water therein and the sheet 15 and horizontal portion of sheet 12 form the for ard and rear decks of the boat:

The raw edges of the flanges 14, in, front l further description thereof.

tubes 17 of celluloid as suggested in my copending application, Serial No. 478,446, filed August 28, 1930. The tubes 17 form washboards which prevent water from entering the cockpit and on them ride a sheet of celluloid 18 suitably formed with depending sideflanges 19 which constitutes a hatch. The hatch in one position covers a spring motor or other type of prime mover 20 and prevents any spray from falling directly thereon, and may he slid along the tube 17 to provide access to the motor when re,- quired. The motor 20 may be riveted or otherwise secured to the hull as shown in Fig. 3 and operates a'propeller 21 through a shaft 22.

Mounted at the bow of the boat is a windshield comprising a celluloid tube 24 which may be slotted and enclose a sheet 25 of transparent celluloid. The ends of the tube are cemented to the flanges 14 or may be extended to enter holes therein. At the bow is inserted a tube 26 of celluloid through which a cord or string (not shown) may be inserted for drawing the boat through the water or tying it in place.

A seat 27 is provided behind the windshield 23 and in front of the cockpit. The seat here shown comprises a sheet of celluloid of suitable contour slitted at its side edges to receive the flanges 14. Between the seat and windshield is mounted a wheel 28 of celluloid upon a post or tube 29 of celluloid. The wheel 28 as shown in Fig. 5 is an integral disk of celluloid having an annular flange 3O thereon. 'Tubes 31 and 32 of celluloid may be mounted at the bow and stern to receive flag staffs 33 if desired The boat is provided with steering mechanism comprising a rudder 34 controlled by a tiller 35. The rudder and tiller are joined by a rod 36, one end of which enters the celluloid tube 35 forming the tiller while the other end enters a pocket 37 formed by bending over one edge of the sheet of celluloid forming the rudder 34. The end of the rod entering the pocket 37 is given a series of reverse bends to prevent any rotation of the rudder independently of the rod (see. F ig. 4). The rod 36 passes through a tube 38 carried by the sheets 11 and 12 at the stern of the boat. In the sheet 12 is formed an arcuate series of bosses 39 with which the tiller 35 engages so that it is held in any desired position until released by swinging in order to change the position of the rudder 34 and the direction of travel of the boat. Running lights 40 and 41 ofcelluloid are mounted at the how of the boat. The embodiment shown in Fig. 6 differs from that just described merely with respect to the seat and hence certain of the reference characters applied to the other embodiment will be applied to corresponding parts without The seat 50 provides a tip 63 substantially at right angles'to the body portion. The tube 61 has a longitudinally extending slot into which the tip 63 and one edge of the piece 60 project. One corner of the piece 60 is notched to receive the tip 63 and the piece and tube are preferably joined by theuse of acetone or the like.

While certain embodiments of this invention have been shown and described it will be understood that I am not limited thereto and that other embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the following claims.

I claim: 7

1. A boat having a hull consisting of an integral sheet forming the bottom side walls and bow of the hull and a second sheet forming the stern of the hull, the top and rear edges of the first sheet being flanged and in engagement with the edges of the second sheet, said second sheet being bent substantiallyat right angles, the top and rear edges of the first sheet being flanged and in engagement with the horizontal and verticalparts respectively of the second sheet.

2. A boat having a hull comprising an integral sheet bent to form the bottom sides and bow of the hull, the forward. edges of the sheet forming the bow abutting, and the rear edges of the sheet at the stern forming a curved or arcuate opening, means for joining the abutting edges at the bow and a sheet for closing the opening at the stern, said second sheet being bent substan-' tially at right angles and said first sheet having flanges at its top and rear edges in engagement with said second sheet.

3. A boat having a hull of celluloid consisting of anintegral sheet thereof forming the bottom, side walls and bow of the hull, a second sheet thereof forming the stern and rear deck, a third sheet thereof forming the forward deck, means for securing said second and third sheets to said first sheet, a seat mounted in said hull and defining with the rear deck a cockpit in which a motor may be placed and a movable hatch carried by the first sheet over the cockpit.

4. In a boat steering mechanism comprising a rudder of sheet celluloid having a pocket at one end thereof, a tiller of tubular celluloid and a rod connecting said tiller and rudder, one end 'of the rod entering ire - the pocket in the rudder, and the other end entering the interior of the tiller.

5. In a boat steering mechanism comprising a rudder of sheet celluloid having a pocket at one end thereof, a tiller oftubular celluloid and a rod connecting said tiller and rudder, one end of, the rod entering the pocket in the rudder that end of the rod having a plurality of reverse bends therein to prevent rotation of the rudder independent of the rod. 7

6. In a boat steering mechanism comprising a-rudder of sheet celluloid, a tiller of tubular celluloid, a rod connecting said rudder and tiller, one end of the rod being se- 1 cured to the rudder and the other end entering the interior of the tiller and a tube of celluloid extending through the stern of the boat and through which tube the rod passes.

7. In a ing a rudder of sheet celluloid, a tiller of tubular celluloid, a rod connecting said rudder and tiller, one end of the rod being secured to the rudder and the other end enter- 1ng yieldably engaging the tiller whereby the rudder is held in any desired position.

8. In a boat steering mechanism comprising a rudder of sheet celluloid, a tiller of tubular celluloid, a rod connecting said rudder and tiller, one end of the rod being secured to the rudder and the other end entering the interior of the tiller, said tiller extending over the rear deck and means integral with the rear deck which means are adapted to engage yieldably the tiller and hold the rudder in any desired position.

9. In a boat steering mechanism comprising a rudder of sheet celluloid, a tiller of tubular celluloid, a rod connecting said rudder and tiller one end of the rod being secured to the rudder and the other end entering the interior of the tiller, said tiller extending over the rear deck and an arcuateseries of bosses integral with the rear deck, which bosses are'adapted to engage yieldably the tiller and hold the rudder in any desired position. V V e 10. The method ofmaking a boat including the steps of bending a sheet of celluloid,

closing one end thereof and thereupon shap ing the sheet with one end closed upon a last of suitable contour, the closed end forming the bow of the boat and the edge of the other end forming the. stern'of the boat defining a transverse curve or arc and securing a second sheet of celluloid to the first to complete V the stern and provide a water-tight hull.

'11. The method of making a boat in- V cluding the steps of bending a sheet of celluloid, closing one end thereof and thereupon shaping the sheet with one end closed upon a last of suitable contour, the closed end forming the bow of the boat and the edge of boat steering'mechanism compristhe interior of the tiller and means the other end forming the stern of the boat flanges of the first sheet at the bow of the boat. I

' Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, Y

this 19th day of November, 1930.

WILLIAM J. DE 'WITT. 

